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ed her about the direction, she owned it immediately; but, when I shewed her that her letter to the count was within it, and told her how it came into my hands, the poor creature was amazed, and thought herself betrayed both by the count and my lady—In short, upon this discovery, the girl and I grew so gracious, that she has let me into some transactions, in my lady Wronghead's family, which, with my having a careful eye over them, may prevent the ruin of

it.

Lord Town. You are very generous, to be solicitous for a lady that has given you so much uneasiness.

Man. But I will be most unmercifully revenged of her; for I will do her the greatest friendship in the world—against her will.

Lord Town. What an uncommon philosophy art thou master of, to make even thy malice a virtue !

Man. Yet, my lord, I assure you, there is no one action of my life gives me more pleasure than your approbation of it.

conduct has chosen rather to deserve than ask my sister's favour, I have been as secretly indus trious to make her sensible of your merit: and since, on this occasion, you have opened your whole heart to me, 'tis now, with equal pleasure, I assure you, we have both succeeded-——she is as firmly yours

Man. Impossible! you flatter me!

Lord Town. I'm glad you think it flattery: but she herself shall prove it none: she dines with us alone: when the servants are withdrawn, I'll open a conversation, that shall excuse my leaving you together-Oh, Charles! had I, like thee, been cautious in my choice, what melancholy hours had this heart avoided!

Man. No more of that, I beg, my lord

Lord Town. But 'twill, at least, be some relief to my anxiety, however barren of content the state has been to me, to see so near a friend and sister happy in it. Your harmony of life will be an instance how much the choice of temper is preferable to beauty.

Lord Town. Dear Charles! my heart's impa- While your soft hours in mutual kindness move, tient 'till thou art nearer to me! and, as a proof You'll reach, by virtue, what I lost by love. that I have long wished thee so, while your daily |

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-MRS MOTHERLY's house. Enter MRS MOTHERLY, meeting MYRTILLA. Moth. So, niece! where is it possible you can have been these six hours?

Myr. Oh, madam! I have such a terrible story to tell you.

Moth. A story! Ods my life! What have you done with the count's note of five hundred pounds, I sent you about? Is it safe? Is it good? Is it security?

Myr. Yes, yes, it is safe: but for its goodness Mercy on us! I have been in a fair way to be hanged about it!

Moth. The dickens! has the rogue of a count played us another trick, then?

Myr. You shall hear, madam. When I came to Mr Cash, the banker's, and shewed him his note for five hundred pounds, payable to the count, or order, in two months- -he looked earnestly upon it, and desired me to step into the inner room, while he examined his books-after I had stayed about ten minutes, he came in to me-claps to the door, and charges me with a constable for forgery.

Moth. Ah, poor soul! and how didst thou get off?

Myr. While I was ready to sink in this condition, I begged him to have a little patience, 'till I could send for Mr Manly, whom he knew to be a gentlemen of worth and honour, and who, I was sure, would convince him, whatever fraud

[Ereunt.

might be in the note, that I was myself an innocent abused woman--and, as good luck would have it, in less than half an hour, Mr Manly came-so, without mincing the matter, I fairly told him upon what design the count had lodged that note in your hands, and, in short, laid open the whole scheme he had drawn us into, to make our fortune.

Moth. The devil you did!

Myr. Why, how do you think it was possible I could any otherwise make Mr Manly my friend, to help me out of the scrape I was in? To conclude, he soon made Mr Cash easy, and sent away the constable: nay, farther, he promised me, if I would trust the note in his hands, he would take care it should be fully paid before it was due, and, at the same time, would give me an ample revenge upon the count; so that, all you have to consider now, madam, is, whether you think yourself safer in the count's hands, or Mr Manly's.

Moth. Nay, nay, child; there is no choice in the matter! Mr Manly may be a friend, indeed, if any thing in our power can make him so.

Myr. Well, madam, and now, pray, how stand matters at home here? What has the count done with the ladies?

Moth. Why, every thing he has a mind to do, by this time, I suppose. He is in high favour with miss, as he is with my lady.

Myr. Pray, where are the ladies?
Moth. Rattling abroad in their own coach,

and the well-bred count along with them: they have been scouring all the shops in town over, buying fine things and new clothes from morning to night: they have made one voyage already, and have brought home such a cargo of bawbles and trumpery-Mercy on the poor man that's to pay for them!

Myr. Did not the young 'squire go with them? Moth. No, no; miss said, truly he would but disgrace their party: so they even left him asleep by the kitchen fire.

Myr. Has not he asked after me all this while? for I had a sort of an assignation with bin.

Moth. Oh, yes; he has been in a bitter taking about it. At last, his disappointment grew so uneasy, that he fairly fell a crying; so, to quiet him, I sent one of the maids and John Moody abroad with him, to shew him the lions, and the monument. Ods ine! there he is just come home again-You may have business with him so I'll even turn you together. [Erit MoTH.

Enter SQUIRE RICHARD.

Squire Rich. Soah, soah, Mrs Myrtilla, where han yaw been aw this day, forsooth?

Myr. Nay, if you go to that, 'squire, where have you been, pray?

Squire Rich. Why, when I fun' at yow were no loikly to come whoam, I were ready to hong my sel-so John Moody, and I, and one o' your lasses, have been-Lord knows wherea seeing o' the soights.

Myr. Well, and pray what have you seen, sir? Squire Rich. Flesh! I cawnt tell, not I-scen every thing, I think. First, there we went o' top o' the what-d'ye-call-it? there, the great huge stone post, up the rawnd and rawnd stairs, that twine and twine about just an as thof it was a cork-screw.

Myr. Oh, the monument; well, and was it not a fine sight from the top of it?

head off, an he could have got me. Hoh! hoh! hoh!

Myr. Well, master, when you and I go abroad, I'll shew you prettier sights than these-there's a masquerade to-morrow.

Squire Rich. Oh, laud, ay! they say that's a pure thing for Merry Andrews, and those sort of comical mummers-and the count tells me, that there lads and lasses may jig their tails, and eat, and drink, without grudging, all night lung.

Myr. What would you say now, if I should get you a ticket, and go along with you? Squire Rich. Ah, dear!

Myr. But have a care, 'squire; the fine ladies there are terribly tempting; look well to your heart, or, ads me! they'll whip it up in the trip of a minute.

Squire Rich. Ay, but they cawnt thoa-soa let 'um look to themselves, an' ony of 'um falls in love with me-mayhap they had as good be quiet.

Myr. Why, sure you would not refuse a fine lady, would you?

Squire Rich. Ay, but I would though, unless it were-one as I know of.

Myr. Oh, oh! then you have left your heart in the country, I find!

Squire Rich. Noa, noa, my heart-eh—my heart e'nt awt o' this room.

Myr. I am glad you have it about you, however.

Squire Rich. Nay, mayhap not soa, noather; somebody else may have it, 'at you little think of.

Myr. I can't imagine what you mean! Squire Rich. Noa! why doan't you know how many folks there is in this room, naw? Myr. Very fine, master; I see you have learnt the town gallantry already.

Squire Rich. Why, doan't you believe 'at I have a kindness for you, then?

Myr. Fy, fy, master, how you talk! beside, you are too young to think of a wife.

Squire Rich. Ay! but I caunt help thinking you, for all that.

Myr. How! why sure, sir, you don't pretend to think of me in a dishonourable way?

Squire Rich. Sight, miss! I know no'-I saw nought but smoak and brick housen, and steeple tops then there was such a mortal ting-o' tang of bells, and rumbling of carts and coaches; and then the folks under one looked so small, and made such a hum, and a buz, it put me in mind of my mother's great glass bee-hive in our garden in the country.

Myr. I think, master, you give a very good account of it.

Squire Rich. Ay; but I did not like it for my head-my head-began to turn-so, I trundied me down stairs agen, like a round trencher. Myr. Well, but this was not all you saw, I suppose?

Squire Rich. Noa, noa; we went, after that, and saw the lions, and I liked them better by hawlf; they are pure grim devils; hoh, hoh! I touke a stick, and gave one of them such a poke • the noase-I believe he would ha' snapt my VOL. II.

Squire Rich. Nay, that's as you see good-I did no' think 'at you would ha' thowght of me for a husband, mayhap; unless I had means in my own hands; and feyther allows me but haulf a crown a-week, as yet awhile.

Myr. Oh, when I like any body, 'tis not want of money will make me refuse them.

Squire Rich. Well, that's just my mind now; for an I like a girl, miss, I would take her in her smock.

Myr. Ay, master, now you speak like a man of honour; this shews something of a true heart in you.

Squire Rich. Ay, and a true heart you'll find me, try when you will. 4 P

Myr. Hush, hush, here's your papa come home, and my aunt with him.

Squire Rich. A devil rive 'em! what do they come naw for?

Myr. When you and I get to the masquerade, you shall see what I'll say to you.

Squire Rich. Well, hands upon't, then-
Myr. There-

Squire Rich. One buss, and a bargain. [Kisses her.] Ads wauntlikins! as soft and plump as a marrow-pudding. [Exeunt severally. Enter SIR FRANCIS WRONGHEAD, and MRS

MOTHERLY.

Sir Fran. What! my wife and daughter abroad, say you?

Moth. Oh, dear sir, they have been mighty busy all the day long; they just came home to snap up a short dinner, and so went out again.

Sir Fran. Well, well; I shan't stay supper for them, I can tell them that: for, ods-heart, I have nothing in me but a toast and tankard since morning.

Moth. I am afraid, sir, these late parliament hours won't agree with you.

Sir Fran. Why, truly, Mrs Motherly, they don't do right with us country gentlemen; to lose one meal out of three, is a hard tax upon a good

stomach.

Moth. It is so, indeed, sir.

Sir Fran. But howsomever, Mrs Motherly, when we consider, that what we suffer is for the good of our country

Moth. Why, truly, sir, that is something. Sir Fran. Oh, there's a great deal to be said for't-the good of one's country is above all things-A true-hearted Englishman thinks nothing too much for it—I have heard of some honest gentlemen so very zealous, that, for the good of their country-they would sometimes go to dinner at midnight.

Moth. Oh, that goodness of them! sure their country must have a vast esteem for them!

Sir Fran. So they have, Mrs Motherly; they are so respected when they come home to their boroughs after a session, and so beloved-that their country will come and dine with them every day in the week.

Moth. Dear me! What a fine thing 'tis to be so populous!

Sir Fran. It is a great comfort, indeed! and, I can assure you, you are a good sensible woman, Mrs Motherly.

Moth. Oh, dear sir, your honour's pleased to compliment!

Sir Fran. No, no; I see you know how to value people of consequence.

Moth. Good lack! here's company, sir. Will you give me leave to get you a little something till the ladies come home, sir?

Sir Fran. Why, troth, I don't think it would

be amiss.

Moth. It shall be done in a moment, sir. [Exit MOTHERLY.

Enter MANLY.

Man. Sir Francis, your servant.
Sir Fran. Cousin Manly!

Man. I am come to see how the family goes on here.

Sir Fran. Troth! all as busy as bees. I have been upon the wing ever since eight o'clock this morning!

Man. By your early hour, then, I suppose you have been making your court to some of the great men.

Sir Fran. Why, faith! you have hit it, sirI was advised to lose no time: so I went e'en straight forward to one great man I had never seen in my life before.

Man. Right! that was doing business: but who had you got to introduce you? Sir Fran. Why, nobody- -I remember I had heard a wise man say-My son, be bold-so, troth, I introduced myself!

Man. As how, pray?

-Please

Sir Fran. Why, thus--Look yeyour lordship, says I, I am sir Francis Wronghead, of Bumper-hall, and member of parliament for the borough of Guzzledown—Sir, your humble servant, says my lord; thof I have not the honour to know your person, I have heard you are a very honest gentleman, and I am glad your borough has made choice of so worthy a representative; and so, says he, Sir Francis, have you any service to command me? Naw, cousin, those last words, you may be sure, gave nie no small encouragement. And thof I know, sir, you have no extraordinary opinion of my parts, yet, I believe, you won't say I mist it naw!

Man. Well, I hope I shall have no cause. Sir Fran. So, when I found him so courteous -My lord, says I, I did not think to ha' troubled your lordship with business upon my first visit; but, since your lordship is pleased not to stand upon ceremony,-why truly, says I, I think naw is as good as another time.

Man. Right! there you pushed him home. Sir Fran. Ay, ay; I had a mind to let him see that I was none of your mealy-mouthed ones.

Man. Very good.

Sir Fran. So, in short, my lord, says I, I have a good estate- -but-a-it's a little awt at elbows: and, as I desire to serve my king, as well as my country, I shall be very willing to accept of a place at court.

Man. So, this was making short work on't.

Sir Fran. I'cod! I shot him flying, cousin! some of your hawf-witted ones, naw, would ha' hunned and hawed, and dangled a mouth or two after him, before they durst open their mouths about a place, and, mayhap, not ha' got it at last neither.

Man. Oh, I'm glad you're so sure on'tSir Fran. You shall hear, cousin-Sir Francis, says my lord, pray what sort of a place may you ha' turned your thoughts upon? My lord, says I, beggars must not be chusers; but ony place, says I, about a thousand a-year, will be well enough to be doing with, till something better falls infor I thowght it would not look well to stond haggling with him at first.

Man. No, no; your business was to get footing any way.

Sir Fran. Right! there's it! Ay, cousin, I see you know the world.

Man. Yes, yes; one sees more of it every day- -Well, but what said my lord to all

this?

sat next me, as soon as I had cried Ay, gives me a hearty shake by the hand. Sir, says he, you are a man of honour, and a true Englishman! and I should be proud to be better acquainted with you-and so, with that, he takes me by the sleeve along with the crowd into the lobby-so, I knew nowght-but, ods flesh! I was got o' the wrung side the post, for I were told afterwards I should have staid where I was.

Man. And so, if you had not quite made your fortune before, you have clinched it now!-Ah thou head of the Wrongheads! [Aside.

Sir Fran. Odso! here's my lady come home at last-I hope, cousin, you will be so kind as to take a family supper with us?

Man. Another time, Sir Francis; but to-night I am engaged.

Enter LADY WRONGHEAD, MISS JENNY, and COUNT BASSET.

Sir Fran. Sir Francis, says he, I shall be glad to serve you any way that lies in my power; so he gave me a squeeze by the hand, as much as to say, give yourself no trouble-I'll do your business. With that he turned him abawt to Lady Wrong. Cousin, your servant; I hope somebody with a coloured ribbon across here, you will pardon my rudeness; but we have realthat looked in my thoughts, as if he came for aly been in such a continual hurry here, that we place, too. have not had a leisure moment to return your last visit.

Man. Ha! ha! so, upon these hopes, you are to make your fortune!

Sir Fran. Why! do you think there's any doubt of it, sir?

Man. Oh, no; I have not the least doubt about it-for, just as you have done, I made iny fortune ten years ago.

Sir Fran. Why, I never knew you had a place, cousin!

Man. Nor I, neither, upon my faith, cousin. But you, perhaps, may have better fortune: for I suppose my lord has heard of what importance you were in the debate to-day--You have been since down at the house, I presume?

Sir Fran. Oh, yes! I would not neglect the house for ever so much.

Man. Well, and pray what have they done there?

Sir Fran. Why, troth, I can't well tell you what they have done; but I can tell you what I did: and I think pretty well in the main; only I happened to make a little mistake at last, in

deed.

Man. How was that?

Sir Fran. Why, they were all got there into a sort of a puzzling debate about the good of the nation-and I were always for that, you know— but, in short, the arguments were so long-winded on both sides, that, waunds! I did not well understand 'um: hawsomever, I was convinced, and so resolved to vote right, according to my conscience so, when they came to put the question, as they call it,-I don't know haw 'twas-but I doubt I cried Ay! when I should ha' cried No! Man. How came that about?

Sir Fran. Why, by a mistake, as I tell you— for there was a good-humoured sort of a gentleman, one Mr Totherside, I think they call him, that

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Man. Oh, madam, I am a man of no ceremony; you see that has not hindered my coming again.

Lady Wrong. You are infinitely obliging; but I'll redeem my credit with you.

Man. At your own time, madam.

Count Bas. I must say that for Mr Manly, madam, if making people easy is the rule of good-breeding, he is certainly the best-bred man in the world.

Man. Soh! I am not to drop my acquaintance, I find-[Aside.] I am afraid, sir, I shall grow vain upon your good opinion.

Count Bas. I don't know that, sir; but I am sure what you are pleased to say makes me so. Man. The most impudent modesty that ever I

met with!

[Aside.

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[Apart.

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Sir Fran. And yet he's as stout as a lion. Waund, he'll storm any thing!

Man. Will he so? why, then, sir, take care of your citadel. [Apart. Sir Fran. Ah, you are a wag, cousin! [Apart. Man. I hope, ladies, the town air continues to agree with you?

Jenny. Oh, perfectly well, sir! We have been abroad in our new coach all day long—and we have bought an ocean of fine things. And tomorrow we go to the masquerade; and on Friday to the play; and on Saturday to the opera; and on Sunday we are to be at the what-d'ye-call-it -assembly, and see the ladies play at quad

rille, and piquet, and ombre, and hazard, and | You must not be so hasty, my dear-I only adbasset; and on Monday we are to see the king; vise you for your good. and so on Tuesday

Lady Wrong. Hold, hold, miss! You must not let your tongue run so fast, child-you for get; you know I brought you hither to learn modesty.

vengeance

Man. Yes, yes! and she is improved with a [Aside. Jenny Lawrd! Mamma, I am sure I did not say any harm; and, if one must not speak in one's turn, one may be kept under as long as one lives, for aught I see.

Lady Wrong. O' my conscience, this girl grows so headstrong

Sir Fran. Ay, ay; there's your fine growing spirit for you! Now, tack it down an' you can. Jenny. All I said, papa, was only to entertain my cousin Manly.

Man. My pretty dear, I am mightily obliged to you!

Jenny. Look you there, now, madam. Lady Wrong. Hold your tongue, I say. Jenny. [Turning away, and glowting.]-I declare it, I won't bear it: she is always snubbing me before you, sir! I know why she does it, well enough[Aside to the COUNT. Count Bas. Hush, hush, my dear! Don't be uneasy at that; she'll suspect us. [Aside.

Jenny. Let her suspect; what do I care—don't know but I have as much reason to suspect as she though, perhaps, I am not so afraid of her.

Count Bas. [Aside.]-'Egad, if I don't keep a tight hand on my tit, here, she'll run away with my project before I can bring it to bear.

Lady Wrong. [Aside.]-Perpetually hanging upon him! The young harlot is certainly in love with him; but I must not let them see I think so-and yet I cannot bear it. Upon my life, count, you'll spoil that forward girl-you should not encourage her so.

Count Bas. Pardon me, madam; I was only advising her to observe what your ladyship said to her.

cautious.

Man. Yes, truly, her observations have been something particular. [Aside. Count Bus. In one word, madam, she has a jealousy of your ladyship, and I am forced to encourage her, to blind it; 'twill be better to take no notice of her behaviour to me. [Apart. Lady Wrong. You are right; I will be more [Apart. Count Bas. To-morrow, at the masquerade, we may lose her. JApart. Lady Wrong. We shall be observed; I'll send you a note, and settle that affair-go on with the girl, and don't mind me. [Apart. Count Bas. I have been taking your part, my little angel. child

Lady Wrong. Jenny! Come hither,

Jenny. Yes, mamma; but when I am told of a thing before company, it always makes me worse, you know.

Man. If I have any skill in the fair sex, miss and her mamma have only quarrelled, because they are both of a mind. This facetious count seems to have made a very genteel step into the family. [Aside.

Enter MYRTILLA. MANLY talks apart with her. Lady Wrong. Well, sir Francis, and what news have you brought us from Westminster to-day? Sir Fran. News, madam, l'cod! I have some

-and such as does not come every day, I can tell you-a word in your ear-I have got a promise of a place at court of a thousand pawnd ayear already.

Lady Wrong. Have you so, sir? And pray who may you thank for't? Now! Who is in the right? Is not this better than throwing so much away after a stinking pack of fox-hounds in the country? Now your family may be the better for it.

Sir Fran. Nay, that's what persuaded me to come up, my dove!

Lady Wrong. Mighty well-come--let me have another hundred pound, then.

Sir Fran. Another! child? waunds! you have had one hundred this morning; pray what's become of that, my dear?

Lady Wrong. What's become of it? Why, I'll shew you, my love: Jenny, have you the bills about you?

Jenny. Yes, mamma.

Lady Wrong. What's become of it? Why, laid out, my dear, with fifty more to it, that I was forced to borrow of the count, here.

Jenny. Yes, indeed, papa; and that would hardly do, neither---There's the account.

Sir Fran. [Turning over the bills.]—Let's see! Let's see! What the devil have we got here?

Man. Then you have sounded your aunt, you say, and she readily comes into all I proposed to you? [Apart. Myr. Sir, I'll answer, with my life, she is most thankfully yours, in every article. She mightily desires to see you, sir. [Apart.

Man. I am going home directly; bring her to my house in half an hour; and, if she makes good what you tell me, you shall both find your ac count in it.

[Apart. Apart.

Myr. Sir, she shall not fail you. Sir Fran. Od's-life! Madam, here's nothing but toys, and trinkets, and fans, and clock stockings, by wholesale!

Lady Wrong. There's nothing but what's proper, and for your credit, sir Francis-Nay, you see I am so good a housewife, that, in necessaries for myself, I have scarce laid out a shilling.

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